Rickie Lambert's first-half strike extended Southampton's lead at the top of the table to four points and dealt a blow to Leeds's play-off hopes.

Lambert put the visitors in front after quarter of an hour, smashing in a volley after Jack Cork's cross was nodded down by Tadanari Lee.

Leeds dominated for large parts of the game but failed to find an equaliser.

Saints keeper Kelvin Davis produced a string of fine saves in the second half and the home side twice hit the bar.

Davis was mobbed by his teammates after the final whistle, a testament to his inspired display, and the endeavour of the hosts who created numerous opportunities and will wonder how they ended up with nothing from the game.

The tone for what was to come was set in the fourth minute when Robert Snodgrass had a penalty appeal turned down after his shot hit the arm of Jose Fonte, while Davis smothered an Adam Clayton volley.

Leeds continued to press and only a smart block from Jos Hooiveld prevented Ross McCormack pouncing from two yards before, against the run of play, Lambert opened the scoring.

But the hosts continued to take the game to the league leaders undaunted, Snodgrass crossing for Ross McCormack, whose header was brilliantly kept out by Davis.

And as Leeds's barrage continued into the second half Davis continued to repel Neil Warnock's side with a stunning trio of saves in a mad five-minute period.

First, after failing to gather a cross, he scrambled back to somehow claw a Becchio effort off the line, then he twice denied impressive Leeds debutant Danny Webber.

In a late melee, Becchio and Darren O'Dea both headed against the bar before Tom Lees had a stinging shot blocked, and the spirited Saints held on to secure victory.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Leeds

  • 01 Lonergan
  • 22 Lees
  • 26 Bromby (Connolly - 24' Booked )
  • 28 White (Webber - 56' )
  • 48 O'Dea
  • 08 Brown (Sam - 73' )
  • 15 Clayton
  • 16 Pugh
  • 10 Becchio
  • 23 Snodgrass
  • 44 McCormack

Substitutes

  • 02 Connolly
  • 11 Sam
  • 20 Nunez
  • 09 Paynter
  • 25 Webber

Southampton

  • 01 Davis
  • 02 Richardson
  • 06 Fonte
  • 13 Fox (Harding - 55' )
  • 26 Hooiveld
  • 04 Schneiderlin
  • 08 Cork
  • 18 Chaplow
  • 42 Puncheon (Hammond - 46' )
  • 07 Lambert
  • 19 Lee (Guly - 46' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 03 Harding
  • 16 Martin
  • 10 Guly
  • 14 Hammond
  • 11 Sharp
Ref: Miller
Att: 20,901

Match Stats

Shots

22 7

On target

12 4

Corners

5 3

Fouls

8 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:29 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +2:43

Unfair challenge on Luciano Becchio by Jos Hooiveld results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by Adam Clayton.

90:00 +2:16

Richard Chaplow produces a drilled right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

90:00 +0:49

Tom Lees takes a shot. Save made by Kelvin Davis.

90:00 +0:10

Guly Do Prado gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Robert Snodgrass. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Ross McCormack from right channel.

86:46

Guly Do Prado challenges Danny Pugh unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Adam Clayton.

86:46 Booking

Booking Guly Do Prado goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

86:46

Free kick awarded for a foul by Guly Do Prado on Danny Pugh. Adam Clayton takes the direct free kick.

86:17

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Robert Snodgrass, Jos Hooiveld makes a clearance.

85:11

Inswinging corner taken by Ross McCormack from the left by-line, Luciano Becchio takes a shot. Darren O'Dea takes a shot.

84:39

The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.

83:58

Outswinging corner taken by Morgan Schneiderlin, Guly Do Prado takes a shot. Blocked by Richard Lambert.

83:41

Richard Lambert takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Andy Lonergan makes a brilliant save.

82:31

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ross McCormack by Guly Do Prado. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ross McCormack from left wing, Frazer Richardson manages to make a clearance.

81:21

The ball is crossed by Paul Connolly, Kelvin Davis makes a comfortable save.

81:08

Robert Snodgrass crosses the ball, clearance by Jose Fonte.

78:12

Danny Webber produces a right-footed shot from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

76:31

Shot from just outside the box by Dean Hammond goes over the crossbar.

75:50

A cross is delivered by Lloyd Sam, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Ross McCormack misses to the right of the target.

74:06

Danny Pugh sends in a cross.

73:04

Luciano Becchio takes a shot. Save made by Kelvin Davis.

72:08 Substitution

Substitution Lloyd Sam is brought on as a substitute for Michael Brown.

68:57

Dan Harding challenges Ross McCormack unfairly and gives away a free kick. Robert Snodgrass produces a cross, Header by Tom Lees from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

67:44

Corner taken by Dan Harding played to the near post.

67:35

Shot by Richard Lambert. Danny Pugh gets a block in.

65:48

Foul by Adam Clayton on Jack Cork, free kick awarded. Richard Lambert crosses the ball in from the free kick.

64:45

Danny Webber takes a shot. Save by Kelvin Davis.

64:05

Effort on goal by Richard Chaplow from just inside the area clears the bar.

63:36

Unfair challenge on Morgan Schneiderlin by Michael Brown results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Kelvin Davis.

62:51

Robert Snodgrass has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.

62:08

Outswinging corner taken by Robert Snodgrass.

61:57

Danny Webber has an effort at goal from 12 yards. Save by Kelvin Davis.

60:54

Jose Fonte challenges Luciano Becchio unfairly and gives away a free kick. Adam Clayton takes the direct free kick. Shot by Ross McCormack from 30 yards. Blocked by Jose Fonte.

60:28

Volleyed left-footed shot by Luciano Becchio. Brilliant save by Kelvin Davis.

56:44

Foul by Michael Brown on Jack Cork, free kick awarded. Kelvin Davis takes the free kick.

55:45 Substitution

Substitution Aidan White leaves the field to be replaced by Danny Webber.

54:17 Substitution

Substitution Dan Harding joins the action as a substitute, replacing Daniel Fox.

51:07

The ball is delivered by Morgan Schneiderlin.

50:47

Inswinging corner taken by Morgan Schneiderlin from the left by-line.

49:12

Kelvin Davis restarts play with the free kick.

49:12 Booking

Booking Paul Connolly is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

48:48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Richard Chaplow by Paul Connolly.

48:20

Danny Pugh delivers the ball.

47:09

Centre by Aidan White, Luciano Becchio produces a volleyed left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Tadanari Lee goes off and Guly Do Prado comes on.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Dean Hammond comes on in place of Jason Puncheon.

45:00 +2:20 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00 +0:58

Aidan White crosses the ball.

43:59

Tadanari Lee is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Andy Lonergan restarts play with the free kick.

43:48

The ball is crossed by Paul Connolly.

42:23

Foul by Adam Clayton on Jason Puncheon, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Kelvin Davis.

38:30

Robert Snodgrass has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.

36:00

The ball is swung over by Robert Snodgrass, Frazer Richardson makes a clearance.

34:13

Unfair challenge on Aidan White by Morgan Schneiderlin results in a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Robert Snodgrass from right channel, Jos Hooiveld makes a clearance.

32:49

Tadanari Lee gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Luciano Becchio. Free kick taken by Michael Brown.

30:05

The ball is crossed by Richard Lambert, save made by Andy Lonergan.

29:46

Michael Brown takes a shot. Jos Hooiveld gets a block in.

28:50

Handball decision goes against Tadanari Lee. Tom Lees takes the free kick.

27:31

Robert Snodgrass has an effort at goal. Jose Fonte gets a block in.

26:09

Jason Puncheon fouled by Michael Brown, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Daniel Fox.

24:48

Ross McCormack sends in a cross, Luciano Becchio takes a shot. Save made by Kelvin Davis.

23:27 Substitution

Substitution Leigh Bromby goes off and Paul Connolly comes on.

21:43

Ross McCormack has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

18:30

Aidan White delivers the ball, Robert Snodgrass produces a volleyed left-footed shot from deep inside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

17:43

Luciano Becchio gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Frazer Richardson. Direct free kick taken by Kelvin Davis.

15:58

Richard Lambert is ruled offside. Tom Lees takes the direct free kick.

15:19

Assist by Tadanari Lee.

15:19 Goal scored

Goal - Richard Lambert - Leeds 0 - 1 Southamp'n Richard Lambert scores a goal from deep inside the penalty area high into the middle of the goal. Leeds 0-1 Southampton.

15:10

A cross is delivered by Jack Cork.

15:10

The ball is sent over by Frazer Richardson.

10:45

Drilled left-footed shot by Aidan White. Jose Fonte gets a block in.

8:23

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Robert Snodgrass, clearance made by Jos Hooiveld.

7:30

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jose Fonte by Luciano Becchio. Kelvin Davis takes the free kick.

6:40

Adam Clayton fouled by Jason Puncheon, the ref awards a free kick. Tom Lees takes the direct free kick.

4:11

Shot by Adam Clayton. Save by Kelvin Davis.

4:02

Adam Clayton produces a cross.

3:42

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Robert Snodgrass from the left by-line.

3:29

Robert Snodgrass takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Blocked by Frazer Richardson.

2:45

Aidan White fouled by Daniel Fox, the ref awards a free kick. Tom Lees takes the free kick.

1:05

The ball is swung over by Adam Clayton, save by Kelvin Davis.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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